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Event: New era of medicine comes to Capitol Hill

Biopharmaceutical researchers work every day to translate science into new treatments and cures. This passion has led to breakthroughs like gene therapy to treat childhood blindness, immuno-oncology that seeks to harness the immune system’s power to eliminate cancer or slow its growth and therapies that can prevent HIV infection. The biopharmaceutical industry is also a key economic driver and supports more than four million high-skilled jobs, serving as the single largest funder of business research and development in the U.S.

To help spotlight this innovation, today, more than 60 biopharmaceutical researchers from 24 PhRMA member companies are headed to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. to tell the story of research and development necessary to develop new medicines for patients. In this unique moment in biopharmaceutical science, conversations on the Hill will center on the complexity of research and the importance of securing a policy environment that allows innovation to flourish. It’s critical policymakers also protect innovation from harmful proposals that seek to jeopardize our ability to continue researching and developing new medicines and patients’ access to the latest treatments.

The event will feature a panel discussion about what the new era of medicine means for women’s health, how the biopharmaceutical industry is empowering women and girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs and what the future of science will look like. From 1990 to 2016, the share of women in the life sciences industry increased from 34 to 47 percent.

A diverse talent pool of STEM-literate Americans prepared for the jobs of the future will be essential for maintaining the national innovation base that supports key sectors of the economy and for making the scientiﬁc discoveries and developing new treatments and cures. While challenges remain to engage, attract, and support girls and women in STEM education and careers, the biopharmaceutical and broader life-sciences industries has made progress in closing STEM gaps and is focused on increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM.

Lori Reilly Lori M. Reilly is Executive Vice President for Policy, Research and Membership at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Ms. Reilly heads PhRMA’s policy and research department in the development and implementation of legislative, regulatory and political strategies to successfully navigate the ever-changing federal health care landscape, working to advance policies that encourage medical progress and patient access to the fruits of pharmaceutical innovation. In her membership role, Ms. Reilly leads the association’s efforts to grow the depth and breadth of innovative pharmaceutical company membership and engagement. Prior to joining PhRMA, Ms. Reilly was counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Commerce as well as Chief of Staff/Counsel to Rep. Jon Christensen, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. Ms. Reilly received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she graduated with Honors, and a J.D. from the University of Nebraska College of Law.